“I think it's the best track in the world.”
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Those are the words of the reigning Australia elite women’s BMX champion, Leanna Curtis.
Curtis, who will be competing at the 2017 BMX National Series, said the course at the Bathurst BMX Track flows really well.
“All the jumps are awesome and it just feels good to ride on,” she said.
“[I’ve riden on the track] a fair few times. I’m only in Wollongong, so I sometimes come out here for sessions.
“I’ve been here the past couple of weekends, training for the nationals.”
Curtis is not sure what to expect when it comes to competition, but is aware of returning New Zealand dual Olympian Sarah Walker.
“We’ve got Sarah Walker, but she’s just back from injury. I don’t know where she’s at and I haven’t raced her in ages,” she said.
“But for me, I just want to go out there and ride the best that I can. I won’t be worried to much about everyone else.”
Walker, who is regarded as one the top BMX riders in the world, will make her return from a shoulder re-construction this week.
Her injury meant she missed out on competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
This weekend will provide Walker with a first competitive experience at the Bathurst track.
She tested herself on the track in the days leading up to the nationals.
“It’s so smooth and very, very fast. With it being such a massive elevation change from the start to the finish, it makes everything super quick,” Walker said.
“It’s definitely a world class track.
“The jumps are quite deceiving. I’ve watched a few videos before I came over and the jumps are a little bit more intimidating than I expected.”
Walker won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics and she said her Olympic experience gave her the ability to be able to compete at her best at the highest level, regardless of her form.
“Being able to give 100 per cent on the day is were my experience will come in [at the Nationals],” she said.
“It’s not so much about rising to the occasion for an event.”
Walker was honest, saying she is feeling nervous and slightly scared, as she heads into her first event since injuring herself at the Worlds Tournament in 2016.
“I’m also excited to see were things are at,” she said.
“A lot of my performance this weekend will come from the track cycling training I did.
“I think I’ll just try my best.”
Walker believes it is hard to have a prediction for her result, as every track is always different.
She said she wants Curtis and herself to perform at their best to see who the best rider is on the day.
“I can take lessons from this weekend home and get back into training and work towards the World Cups and World Championships later this year,” she said.
Walker and Curtis are expected to go head-to-head in the Oceania Championships on Saturday.
Walker said Rachel Jones, who has been racing in America of late, is one of the female riders to watch.
The men’s category has “quite a few Kiwis coming over”, while many of the junior age groups will be represented by a large New Zealand contingent.